Author/作者: 杜小雯 (Xiao)
English Editor/英文母语编辑: Isabell (伊莎)
眼睛累了不想看屏幕？在路上不方便阅读？您可以来听作者们为您朗读的这个博客喔！Don’t feel like reading? You don’t have to! Tune in to listen to our authors read you this blog.
Chinese – 中文原声 – 杜小雯 （Xiao）
English – 英文原声 – Isabell (伊莎)
Vinifera欧盟葡萄酒硕士的课堂，授课老师们总是从欧洲各国飞来、进行为期几天的模块教学。几乎每周都会有新的教授，因此全班同学的轮流自我介绍便成了家常便饭。我最常用的一句介绍是：“我本科毕业于亚洲第一所葡萄酒学院”。瞬间、便有种“冲出亚洲、走向世界”的“傲娇感”。玩笑归玩笑，西农葡酒人还是非常谦逊扎实的，我也不例外。
In the Vinifera EuroMaster’s class, the teachers always fly in from different European countries to give module lectures, the modules lasts from several days to a couple of weeks. Since there are new professors almost every week, it was a regular routine for the whole class to introduce themselves one by one. One of the phrases I used most often to introduce myself was: “I graduated from Asia’s first College of Enology…” In that instant, you could measure the pride in my tone, that eagerness to rush out of Asia to head out into the world to show everyone what a great Chinese enology education can do. However, even with immense pride, I should stress that the graduates from our college are humble and modest people, myself included.
2016年在美国加州索诺玛海岸做榨期的时候，会经常穿上我们学院的院服。“耕土耕心，酿酒酿人”的院训在背后，总会有种莫名的幸福感。时不时，会跟来自世界各地、然而同样好奇的同事们阐述这句院训的含义。在大家被中华文化的博大精深感动之余，我的嘴角也不禁挂上格外明朗的笑容。
During the harvest at Sonoma Coast in California back in 2016, I often put on our College T-shirt. There was always an inexplicable sense of happiness in my heart as I donned the College motto written in bold black on my back. From time to time, I would translate the meaning of the sentence to curious colleagues from different parts of the world, “Farming the land is like cultivating our hearts, crafting wines makes us a better person”. Thereafter, as each of them conveyed how touched they were by the profound message expressed through Chinese culture, an extra bright smile would appear on my face.
的确，很为母校西农葡萄酒学院而自豪。也为身为西农葡酒人而感觉幸福。
Indeed, I am sincerely proud of my alma mater, the College of Enology at Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University (here onward referred to as “Xi Nong”). I also feel blessed to be one of its alumni.
照片来源: 西农官微
母校坐落在安静的杨凌小镇。这里，没有远方大城市的喧嚣和浮躁。真心很庆幸、大学四年是在这里走过。在人格得以完善的大学时光里，可以心无旁骛地成长。西农葡萄酒学院，我们成长的家园、我们启程的地方。从一次次葡萄园里的劳作，实验室里的一丝不苟，3号楼、图书馆门前树荫下的书声朗朗，各大比赛中大展身手，到自习室里的挑灯夜战，母校给我们的训练是全方位的。这里淳朴浓厚的学术氛围为西农人打上了格外扎实勤恳的烙印: 觥筹交错时可以高谈阔论、品评杯中美酒的西农葡酒人也更熟悉葡萄在土地上成长的历程、更能体会葡萄园管理者的无微不至和辛勤耕作、更加敬重发酵车间里酿酒师的用心呵护与工匠精神。从土地到餐桌，凝聚着西农葡萄酒学院日复一日的坚持、记录着年复一年西农葡萄酒学子的成长。
照片来源: 西农官微
Our alma mater is located in a quiet town —— Yangling. Here, students want for nothing, and there is no noise; the serenity of this place is magical. I am really glad of the four years I spent here. During ones university years, as a young adult’s personality is being moulded, this is a place where one can grow up serenely. Xi Nong College of Enology, was a second home and where we grew up; the place that launched us into our future.
照片来源: 西农官微
Time was spent practicing viticulture training in the vineyard, undertaking meticulous lessons in the laboratory, morning reading under the trees in front of the 3rd building as well as the library, striving to stand out from the talented and versatile competition and burning the midnight oil in the study hall – our alma mater gave us comprehensive training to be sure. The down-to-earth and strong academic atmosphere here has distinguished the Xi Nong students and alumni alike, endowing them with a particularly solid and diligent brand: the Xi Nong Enology graduates are not only able to discuss and evaluate wine in a professional and elegant manner, but at the same time, we are more familiar with the growing process of grapes in the vineyard, and can also appreciate the constant back-breaking work of the vineyard managers; there is more respect for the attentive care and craftsmanship put in by winemakers in the cellar. Majors include subjects that range from everything surrounding the vineyard to the final product on the dining table, these courses of study embody the versatility and endurance of the Xi Nong College of Enology day after day, year after year; building on the growth of its students over time.
照片来源: 西农官微
在外求学、谋生的这些年，母校一直像一座灯塔，照亮着我们前行的路。无论是在做榨期时肌肉酸痛到想要放弃，还是刚入职时“活多钱少不受待见”的实习生活，母校西农“诚、朴、勇、毅”的校训都在鼓舞着我继续前行。感恩李华院士40年前的勇气，从法国波尔多学成归国建立了亚洲第一所葡萄酒学院。从建院伊始，一直初心不变。直至今日，全国各地的葡萄酒行业桃李芬芳，在世界各个葡萄酒产区也不缺西农葡萄酒人日复一日的为行业添砖加瓦。母校教会了我们要踏踏实实地做人、认认真真的做事。这种勤恳的品质无论在哪里都是会发光的。
During these years of study and afterwards, while earning a living abroad, my alma mater has always been like a lighthouse, illuminating my way forward. Whether prior to graduation, during my internship, when my muscles were too sore to continue, after a hard days labor during the harvest, to long after graduation throughout my underpaid internship period, during my first contracted employment, Xi Nong’s motto remained embedded in my mind, “honesty, simplicity, courage and perseverance”, these words have encouraged me to move forward and embrace the big picture and imagine a brighter future.
Photo Credit: @lee0201 on Unsplash
All of this is thanks to academic Professor Li Hua’s courage 40 years ago, after returning from Bordeaux, France to establish the first College of Enology in Asia. From the very beginning, the heart of his vision has not changed. Up to now, the wine industry in all parts of China is full of excellent Xi Nong graduates, acting as the backbones in its own field, and there is no shortage of graduate wine people in wine producing areas all over the world, who contribute to the wine industry on a daily basis. Our alma mater has taught us to be resolute and to do things conscientiously; steadfast qualities that shine everywhere.
照片来源：房玉林教授朋友圈
那些年的青春，我们从西农葡萄酒学院走过。四年的时光，并不短暂、然而终究逝去了。大学的日子，如此让人怀念。令人怀念的，是有选择的青春、是那些年在西农的美好光景。再度回首，有种时光穿越的沧桑感。老学院已经改成了有着诗意名字的葡萄酒博物馆 – “葡萄美酒夜光杯”。当年举办毕业典礼时建好的新楼已经成为了葡萄酒学院的新教学楼。在母校生日之际，送上稍晚一点儿的祝福！请等着我们，我们将回家看您！
照片来源：房玉林教授朋友圈
The years spent at Xi Nong College of Enology were happy ones. Four years is definitely not a short time, but it passed quickly. My college days were so memorable, and what fills so many of us with sentimentality are the moments spent reminiscing about the simple life as a scholar, when life was full of choices and those good old times were piled high with challenging activities.
Looking back, I am reminded of the vicissitudes of time and how quickly it passes; but time marches forward, always bringing new changes with it. Today, the old college has been turned into a wine museum and given a romantic name, taken from a traditional Chinese poem: “Fine wine in a luminous glass”. In addition, the brand-new building where our graduation ceremony was held has now become a new teaching building for the College of Enology.
On this occasion of our alma mater’s birthday, I wish her all the best from the bottom of my heart. Our dedication to the college comes a few days after the celebrations (The 26th birthday of College of Enology was on 20th April 2020) and I hope our words of gratitude are well met.
Please wait for us, we will be home to visit you soon!
照片来源：房玉林教授朋友圈
如何爱你如初恋？很多葡萄酒界的黑马都是跨界精英、最终登上“葡萄酒大师”的宝座、名利双收。作为科班出身的葡酒人，我们从十八、九岁起和葡萄酒结缘，“7年之痒”过后、该如何将葡萄酒视为你我的初恋？一个显而易见的答案是要保持旺盛的好奇心和求知欲，不断挑战自己。最终登顶的都是目标明确、持之以恒的人，无论是雄鹰还是蜗牛（传说中能够登顶自金字塔的只有两种动物：雄鹰和蜗牛）。当然，“条条大路通罗马”。成为顶级的葡萄园种植师、酿酒师、营销师、侍酒师或是销售高手都是登顶的不同形态。共勉！在此，欢迎各位师哥师姐师弟师妹共同交流指教。
How do we treat wine like our first love? Many of the “dark horses” in the wine industry are cross-border elites who eventually obtain the title of “Master of Wine”, with it they gain the possibility of finding both fame and fortune. As enology graduates with years systematic training, how do we treat wine as if it were our first love? Especially after that “7-year itch” that occurs after having lived and breathed wine since we were 18 or 19 years old? The obvious answer is to maintain a strong sense of curiosity and that thirst for knowledge, constantly challenging ourselves to strive for more, no matter what path was taken in the sector. In the end, those who reach the summit of their field are those who set out with clear goals and persevered, whether they were hawks or snails（there are only 2 types of animals that can reach the top of a pyramid: hawks and snails.); there is also a similar western saying that “All roads lead to Rome”. Each highly-skilled vineyard grower, winemaker, marketer, sommelier or salesperson setting down a different path to of reach the top of their game can maintain that first love of wine regardless; I sincerely welcome all teachers, elders and younger alumni to communicate and encourage each other in this passion-filled endeavour, together.
照片来源: 西农官微
在最后，我希望借此机会谦卑地向大家介绍一下我同英文母语葡萄酒作家Isabell、联合创办的中英双语的葡萄酒媒体平台。羲和葡萄酒传媒旨在分享葡萄酒知识、同时架起东西方葡萄酒爱好者的友谊桥梁。我们诚挚的邀请西农葡萄酒的前辈和师兄弟姐妹给予关注并监督指教我们每日更新的葡萄酒传媒。我们深知这不再是一个“酒香不怕巷子深”的时代，一个震撼人心故事和灵活的数字媒体传播战略是我们从任何人群（或酒群）中出彩的必要元素。我们真心希望通过这个中西贯通平台来分享我们对葡萄酒的不渝至爱，并在中西方社交媒体上为深爱的西农葡萄酒学院、出色的西农葡萄酒毕业生和腾飞中的中国葡萄酒发声。
As we reach the end of this blog, I would like to humbly present a Chinese-English bilingual wine media project co-founded by English mother-tongue wine writer Isabell and myself. Helios Wine Media was created to share wine knowledge as well as build a bridge between those wine loving spirits in the east and the west. I sincerely invite our the brothers and sisters in the alumni to follow our daily update on WeChat, it’s a huge commitment and we live to make it happen. We all know that we are not living in an era where one can simply rely on a fine wine (or good people) alone to gain a good reputation; compelling story-telling and flexible digital marketing strategies are essential elements to stand out in any crowd. We hope we can use this platform to share our passion for wine and spread the word about our beloved Xi Nong College of Enology, its excellent alumni and the continued success of the Chinese wine industry on both Chinese and Western social media platforms.
照片来源: 西农官微
一个入职2年半、目前在意大利工作的、11-15级本科的西农葡酒人，
杜小雯
Xi Nong Enology graduate of class 2011-15 who has been working in Italy for 2.5 years,
Xiao
小Vino 